Turkish Court Acquits Doctor

[Press]

Turkish Court Acquits Doctor 

Tuesday, March 10, 1998; 1:41 p.m. EST

AYDIN, Turkey (AP) -- A Turkish court on Tuesday acquitted a doctor who
blew the whistle on torture by military police. 

Dr. Eda Guven enraged local officials when she reported that detainees
brought to her for treatment had been tortured. In retaliation, she was
charged with abusing her position as a physician, punishable by up to three
years in prison. 

The military police accused her of trying to undermine the authority of the
state by accusing its officers of torturing six men detained for theft last
November in a town west of Aydin. 

She was also accused of persuading the victims to file a complaint with
prosecutors -- a charge the prosecutors have taken no action on yet. 

According to human rights groups, local authorities -- including the
governor's office -- tried to pressure her into changing her report. When she
refused, she was indicted. 

Members of the independent Turkish Human Rights Association went to
Aydin to support Guven, but were harassed by police. ``Some of our friends
were seriously assaulted,'' said Nazmi Gur, head of the group. 

Turkey is often criticized for human rights violations, including police
torture. 

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan!
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